The Senate has now joined the House in passing sweeping and punitive welfare "reform" that destroys the saftey net for women and their children. The bill now goes to a fast-track conference committee. If the House version prevails many more battered women will be forced to stay with abusers since outside help will be non-existent. A national coalition of grass roots groups led by JEDI women in Utah has called for a National Day of Action July 31, to send a message to President Clinton to veto the welfare bill. They are planning protests, rallies, call and fax-ins. For a sample letter or action update call Liz Accles at the coalition: 212-344-0195. The President's fax number is 202-456-2461; comment line 202-456-1111; E-mail [email protected]

Repubs and Dems are busy building their platforms for the coming election. Despite Bob Dole's "language of tolerance," the R platform has a provision that explicitly supports an amendment to the U.S. constitution which would grant the "unborn" a right to life that "cannot be infringed." And according to news reports last week, the Equal Rights Amendment has been dropped from the Democrat's platform after 53 years (women's groups have been assured by high-ranking D's that this will be corrected). It's not too late to let the parties know how you feel about platform planks affecting women. Address comments to R's (by August 5) Platform Committee at 310 1st Street SE, Washington, D.C. 20003, Attn: David Gribben. D's can be reached at fax 202-863-7109; 490 S. Capitol Street SE, Washington, D.C. 20003, Attn: Brian Bond; comments taken until August 4.

Even though both the Senate and the House have passed a hike in the minimum wage, action is being held hostage to politics-as-usual. Minimum wage workers (almost 60% female) won't get a raise until a final conference committee sends it to the Prez. Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott (R, MS) refuses to appoint Senate conferees because he's huffed-up about health insurance reform, a completely unrelated issue. The Citizen's Committee for a Fair Minimum Wage will release a letter to Lott signed by many organizations on July 24, urging him to appoint conferees immediately. Lott needs to hear from citizens as well (before the $133,600 per-year Senators blow town for August recess to raise big campaign bucks). If your organization can sign onto the letter, fax the Citizens's Committee at 202-328-6918 with exact organizational name and a contact number, or E-mail[email protected]

As loyal readers know, WFF was supremely irritated last year when Congress refused to release public funds to move the only suffrage statue out of the Capitol basement and into a place of honor in the rotunda, populated by 11 exclusively male statues. We're still irked, but we're now convinced our suffragist foremothers should take their rightful place even if women are once again asked to pay an unfair share by ponying up the money ourselves. Republicans who blocked the move last year have promised the statue will be raised if private funds can be raised (they probably don't think it can be done). As the great-great granddaughter of Elizabeth Cady Stanton points out "when the statue is in place, few will know who paid to move it, but all citizens of the world will see the FEMALE nation builders in their rightful place." Join activists from around the country to raise funds for our foremothers by sending your contribution (every $1 helps) to the National Museum of Women's History, 303 W. Glendale Ave., Alexandria, VA 22301 or call 202-667-7823 for more info.

Prodded by many calls, faxes, and E-Mails from WFF readers and other activists, the Senate passed the minimum wage bill this week without "poison pill" provisions that would have cut out millions of workers. This is a definite victory for women, since almost 60% of minimum wage workers are women. The bill also has something in it for homemakers - expansion of the homemaker IRA (WFF 6/14) bringing it in line with women who work outside the home. Thank your Senator for a "yes" vote at 202-224-3121. The bill now goes to a conference committee where it will be reconciled with the house version.

July 25: 1996 Leadership Conference on Women, the Economy, and the Elections features Laura D'Adrea Tyson, Lynn Martin, and leading women from the media. Being convened by the Institute for Women's Policy Research; 202-785-5100; fax 202-833-4362